By Bridget Shirvell
In the second instalment of our new series, Advice and ideas on raising kids in the climate crisis, the author of Parenting in a Climate Crisis, Bridget Shirvell, takes you through to take to children about heat waves.
It’s hot out there. Here’s how to talk with your kids about heatwaves in a way that builds understanding, safety, and resilience.
‘Time to hydrate the hydrangeas’ was not a phrase I expected to be my summer motto, but thanks to the heat waves we keep having in my part of the world, it’s become the phrase I’ve uttered the most so far this season.
Generally, in the late evening when the heat isn’t quite unbearable, I can get my kid outside for a bit to water the flowers.
Summer is supposed to be a time of sunshine, swims, and long, lazy afternoons. But these days, for many families, summer also brings the anxiety of extreme heat, of having to wake up early to take your kids to the playground before the playscapes get too hot, of having to remind your kids to keep drinking water and of having to figure out how to handle long stretches of heat that disrupt routines.
Of course, it’s tempting to protect our kids from the fear and uncertainty of climate change-fueled heatwaves. But talking about heat waves in honest, age-appropriate, and even hopeful ways helps children understand what’s happening and how they can be part of the solution.
Here’s how to start talking about heat waves without scaring your kids:
Start with the basics
This isn’t the time for a science lecture. Instead, have an honest and straightforward talk about what’s happening. You might start with: “A heatwave is when it’s hotter than usual for several days in a row.” From there, you can add: “We’re having more heat waves now because the Earth has a fever. The planet is getting warmer, making weather like this more often.”
For younger children, comparing the Earth to a living thing they care about, such as a pet or a family member, might help them grasp the concept: “Just like we take care of each other when someone doesn’t feel well, there are lots of people all over the world working to help the Earth feel better.”
You can mention examples such as communities planting trees, families finding ways to reduce waste, and towns and cities switching to renewable energy. It’s important to stress that many people are working on solutions.
The rest of your conversation can follow your child’s lead. In short, factual, and honest ways, answer any questions they have, such as why it is happening, whether it will get worse, or what we can do.
Validate feelings
Extreme heat can be scary, especially when it disrupts routines. Maybe your child was looking forward to a camp that got cancelled, or they’re frustrated by having to stay inside during peak heat. Instead of brushing it off, try: “It’s annoying that it’s too hot to go to the playground this afternoon. I feel that too.” You want them to know it’s okay to be sad, mad, confused, etc.
Focus on Safety
Talk about how your family can stay cool:
- Drink plenty of water.
- Close blinds or curtains during the hottest part of the day.
- Use fans or visit air-conditioned public spaces (like libraries or community centres).
- Go outside in the early morning or evening when it’s cooler.
Kids of all ages can get involved in making a heat wave plan. Have them choose indoor activities, figure out when the best time to be outside is, or give them the responsibility of keeping pets (or hydrangeas) if you have them hydrated.
Let them find solutions
One of the most important things we can offer our kids in the climate crisis is a sense of agency. While we can’t snap our fingers and make it cool, we can use heat waves to talk about it and take meaningful actions.
With younger kids, talk about what changes they notice outside when it’s hot. For instance, have them touch the dirt and tell you what it feels like. You can connect that to having them leave water out for birds and bees in a bird bath or just water in a bowl for the neighbourhood dogs. Have them check those bowls and refill them throughout the day.
With older kids, you can make heat waves a science experiment. Have them track how long it takes for the bowls of water to dry up, or have them take the temperature at different places in the neighbourhood or a local park. Is it cooler where there are more trees? Can they write to local elected officials about planting more trees? If you have a home with a yard, have them help you install a rain barrel to save water that can be used on hot days to fill those bowls or water plants.
Learning how they can take action helps build a sense of connection and purpose.
Continue to reinforce solutions
The goal isn’t to pretend everything’s fine or to dump all the burden onto them. It’s to be honest and reassuring. Remind them that people worldwide are working on ways to cool cities, shift to clean energy, and build community.
As a family, you can also create routines that offer comfort and connection during heatwaves: reading together, making “cooling pops” from frozen juice, or tracking your household water use like a game.
Talking to kids about heat waves won’t stop the rising temperatures, but it will help raise curious, flexible, climate-literate humans.
Bridget Shirvell is a freelance journalist and the author of Parenting in a Climate Crisis. A handbook that explores the challenges and opportunities of raising children in an era of climate change. Her work has been featured in various publications, including The New York Times, Grist, and Fast Company, where she combines personal insights with expert perspectives to inspire and inform readers. Bridget is passionate about raising awareness and sparking meaningful conversations around climate action and the future of the next generation. You can follow her Substack here.
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